“Dennis Harper: Born in the Bayou”

Tilman Fertitta has some downtown competition. The latest Window Into Houston installation, Dennis Harper: Born in the Bayou, opened at the private residence of Jim Peterson. Blaffer Art Museums collaboration with the Peterson household, located in the downtown area, is the third exhibit of its kind realized by Blaffer director and chief curator Claudia Schmuckli. Like Elaine Bradfords The Sidereal, which kicked off the Window Into Houston project, Harpers take on an aquarium, viewable 24 hours a day in the street-front window gallery, definitely showcases a different vibe during the day versus night.

The windows exteriors are glossed with perforated film that gives the appearance of steel-tank portholes. Inside, Harper  a Los Angeles-raised artist with a bachelors in studio art from the University of Texas-Austin and a masters in sculpture from the University of Houston  has carefully crafted fish and nautical plants on colored paper that makes neon hues seem like wimps. When the sun is out, the piece, though impressive, isnt the most striking thing to look at, à la Fertittas Downtown Aquarium. But at night, the faux animals become lifelike. Though nothing moves, you can almost see them dancing in the water thats not there. Daily. 110 Milam. For information, call 713-743-2255 or visit www.uh.edu. Free.
Mondays-Sundays. Starts: Oct. 6. Continues through Jan. 5, 2011